Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Top Ten Tuessday: Book Blurbs (4/30)

Image from The Broke and the Bookish

I originally wasn't going to participate in this week's Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish because over the past few months, my reading habits have changed quite a bit.  However, I realized that great literature endures because it meets us where we as readers are right now, and as I grow and change, my reading tastes evolve as well.  Also, a book's blurb may catch my attention, but it is not necessarily a predictor of whether or not I will like the content (as my recent Top Ten Tuesday Surprise Reactions list indicates).

So what makes me consider cracking a book's cover?
  1. A well-designed, eye catching cover
  2. A blurb or recommendation by one of my auto-buy authors
  3. Contemporary issues
  4. Mythology
  5. Family dynamics 
  6. Marriage
  7. Unrequited love
  8. Literary fiction
  9. Meta-textual, book within a book premise
  10. The promise of a big reveal (i.e. secret revelations) 
Any recommendations for books with these plot points?  What is your book blurb kryptonite? 
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11 comments:

  1. kayerjApril 30, 2013 at 11:42 AM

    I like a well designed cover too, nice list today. kelley—the road goes ever ever on

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    1. KristinMay 1, 2013 at 6:17 AM

      I was checking out your list, and I was wondering if you had read The Raven Boys yet. It's got a Arthurian legend flair and a great cover.

      Delete
  2. lillylilacApril 30, 2013 at 11:57 AM

    Good list, I love reading about family dynamics and unrequited love as well.

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    1. KristinMay 1, 2013 at 6:15 AM

      It seemed ironic to put both marriage and unrequited love on my list, but I'm interested in explorations of both. I like seeing analysis of marriages past a lovey doves exterior, and there's something about all that longing in an unrequited love story that makes me all swoony!

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  3. KayApril 30, 2013 at 7:06 PM

    I totally didn't think to add the cover thing but I totally should have. I always gravitate towards books with pretty covers.

    My Top Ten

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    1. KristinMay 1, 2013 at 6:13 AM

      Your list is great too - my inclusion of mythology is a direct result of my love for Rick Riordan. I can't wait for The House of Hades this fall!

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  4. Somewhere Only We KnowApril 30, 2013 at 8:00 PM

    New follower! I didn't think about the cover since it's not an actual word in the description, but I'm definitely judge a book by it's cover!

    My TTT
    Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know

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  5. ChristineApril 30, 2013 at 10:34 PM

    A great cover gets me too! I'm also drawn to literary fiction, though I must admit I sometimes think that is a very difficult genre to define.

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    1. KristinMay 1, 2013 at 6:08 AM

      It's a hard genre to read, but often times its worth it. I think of literary fiction as writing that relies heavily on classical literary references and allusions and/or writing whose story is really a larger metaphor for the human condition. Very technical and accurate definition right?

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  6. KristinMay 1, 2013 at 6:06 AM

    I think a cover can often hint at a book's content or even create a "spell-binding" or "quick-witted" atmosphere. Designers have to read the book before they design the cover, so it's like a visual blurb.

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